On Friday 8 May 2020, T.A. Alade will defend his PhD dissertation, entitled: ‘Innovation Adaptation in Urban Light-Rail Transport. Adapting Pricing and Infrastructural Innovations using Frugal Approach in Ethiopia and Nigeria’
Adapting Light-Rail Transport (LRT) for the first time by cities in transition to LRT might initially be an uphill task, depending on how the receiving city understands how to interact with the LRT providers and international multi-actors, while managing the limited human, financial and time resources using a frugal approach. To achieve this, a systematic effort is required by the LRT receiving city, to systematize the process that will guarantee the success of the LRT implementation. The first article aimed to understand how the multi-actor interaction processes and absorptive capacity structure delivered frugality in urban rail transport; providing affordable transport to the Bottom of Pyramid (BoP) passengers and a fraction of modal-shift from other motorized transport modes to light-rail public transport. The second article aimed firstly to know how the pricing and infrastructural innovations of LRT from a Chinese context was transferred to the Addis-Ababa context. Secondly, what were the social, economic and environmental effects of these contextualized innovations on passenger service delivery, Multi-National Corporations (MNCs), city environment, resident’s proximity and business activities along the LRT routes. Thirdly, why did the effects of these contextualized innovations on passengers, MNCs, and residents lead to re-modifications? The third article analysed the similarities and differences in contextual factors between Abuja and Lagos in Nigeria and between Ethiopia and Nigeria. The fourth article focused on the two gap dimensions of a service quality loop for light-rail transport. These are targeted and delivered service quality from the multi-actors and perceived service quality from the passengers.
The PhD defences will not take place publicly in the Senate Hall or Professor Andries Queridoroom due to the coronavirus. The candidates will defend their thesis online.